The New Way Revolution Summit is open to all—students, professionals, community leaders, and people seeking the tools and knowledge to apply nonviolence as a lifestyle and as a change-generating tactic in a variety of settings.

The Summit will focus specifically on equipping college students, professionals, and community leaders to effectively incorporate real-world peacemaking and conflict reconciliation strategies in support of diversity, inclusion, and meaningful coexistence.

Attendees will get immediate practice applying principles learned in the training room as they engage in direct action and community service opportunities in the Atlanta area. With support from New Way trainers and staff, participants will create personal action plans to take home and will benefit from ongoing support throughout the year.

What is the cost and what does cover?

The cost of the Summit is $289. It covers the training, material, continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day. It does not cover cost of housing or transportation to and from Atlanta. Participants will be sent an invoice prior to the Summit.

Where do I register?

Register for the SummitHERE. Please note on the form if you’re interested in applying for a scholarship. We will send that application separately.

If you have any questions, contact Ronald Smith (845-671-1353 or training@somethingnew.org)

It has been said that you aren’t born to hate but taught to hate. I was born into a system that taught me to hate. I learned to hate the LGBTQ community, judge people that had less than me, and treat women like sex objects. Hate was subtly poured into me from an early age through fear of differences. I learned to dehumanize people and develop a strong hate towards the LGBTQ community, different religious groups, and people of color. This strong hate came from the way I felt about myself. I hated who I was. When I did try to confront it, people would justify it as that is just the way guys are–or even more recently, as locker room talk. It is bullshit and I am going to call bullshit. I was a participant. I was racist, full of hate and fear. I had so much hate in me towards gay people that I wanted to hurt them. I looked down on black people as less than me. I treated women as objects.

Perhaps the worst part is that we did all of this behind the “Christian” label. We were the holy ones, the righteous ones. It wasn’t until I fully realized how screwed up that I am, that I found God’s love. God is love, God made all people, God is bigger than our small minds can even come close to imagining. I must be willing to call out the system that taught me to be prejudice, to judge and to live in fear. I have learned that the same system that taught me to hate was also killing me. Hate does that, you cannot hate and love at the same time. I am sick and tired of the way this system oppresses people in an attempt to justify its own insecurities.

I have experienced freedom through love. Once you taste freedom, you want everyone to experience the same freedom. Freedom isn’t free; it requires sacrifice. Sacrifice is required to stand against a system that oppresses all people. I cannot sit by and watch our country, the world, operate under a dehumanizing system that judges people based on their color, sexual orientation, religion, outward appearance, money, etc.–not on the content of their character.

My challenge is to not become bitter at the people stuck in the system that oppressed me and continues to oppress so many others. This does no good except cause you to do the same thing that you came out of. You are still judging someone as less than you. You are putting yourself higher than someone else. That is the system. In order to be free from it, we have to let go of it. We must choose to operate in love– not a mushy love, but an unconditional love that chooses to see the person and not define them by the system they are a part of. We must fight the ideology that has created this system, not the people that are slaves to it. As true nonviolent practitioners, we must be willing to examine the areas in ourselves where we still follow the system.In order to free others, we must become free.

The times are changing and now, more than ever we need an opportunity to come together and support each other and organize for good. Join us in Atlanta, Georgia, January 5-7, 2017, for a New Way Summit. The $50 registration fee includes training, materials, snacks and beverages. Check out the agenda for the Summit Here and Register Here.

As I woke up at 1:30am to check the results of the election I felt a wave of emotions come over me. I felt anger, fear, frustration and sadness. I soon realized that my emotions were driven out of my deep concern for humanity, for the people that would be hurt and most impacted by the new president-elect’s stands. I was not going to allow these emotions control or dictate how I live my life and the way we can help others live their lives.

The hate and division that is manifesting in our country can feel overwhelming.

We now have a choice that we are faced with. Will we be a part of the system that operates in fear and hate or will we choose the courageous path of love?

Will we build walls to protect “our ways” or are we going to embrace people, culture, beauty, difference and ultimately freedom for all?

This quote from the Holocaust Museum that impacted me says “The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you; they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.” ― Wade Davis. This has challenged me to embrace, be open, and not judge based on any of my learned biases. As I have done this, I have experienced life, beauty and a new level of personal freedom. My friend recently told me that torment comes in the valley of decision and that peace comes after you have made your decision to move forward. So with that said, I have decided to #StickwithLove. Perfect love casts out fear. We have some work to do, so get busy loving the people. I am choosing to live life by the principles of nonviolence. [Read more…]

The election left many of us wondering, “Where do we go from here?” Join Ronald, Barak and the New Way community as we discuss how we are sticking with love and taking action during this turbulent time. We look forward to sharing and hearing from you!

We sat down with New Way Director and trainer, Barak, to hear about his experiences with Nonviolence training!

New Way Director, Barak (far right), with (from right to left) New Way trainers, Beth and Lee, and New Way Director, Ronald, after the 2016 New Way Summer Institute.

When were you first trained?

I went through Ronald Smith’s [New Way Director, Senior Trainer] training in July of 2014.

What peaked your interest in getting trained in the first place?

I misjudged the effectiveness of nonviolence. I had the privilege of having Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. stay with us in our home for one week. We got to hear his stories. I quickly realized the courage required to live a life of nonviolence. I was captivated and inspired by the works of Dr. Lafayette.

What is a significant memory you have of when you were first trained?

I came to the realization that Dr. King, Mandela, and Gandhi were just people that chose to follow their hearts and convictions. I had to learn to fight the internal violence that comes at me daily.

What is a significant memory you have of a training that you have given?

Wow, there are so many. This last summer we did our summer institute in Selma Alabama. We had around 30 trainees of all walks of life. There were college professors, students, a professional actress, business professionals, and a law enforcement professional. It was the perfect group. There was a time at the end of the training when everyone truly realized how much they needed the training. The entire group was up on stage singing and dancing to “Fight Song.” They are all amazing impact players that are destined to change the world.

What has nonviolence done for you in your life?

It has broadened my perspective of community. I learn something new every day. I love being exposed to new people, cultures and ways of life. My community now includes the entire planet.

Why would you encourage others to participate in a nonviolence training?

Nonviolence, when applied daily, gives you the tools to fight with courage, dream big, and maintain the hope that things can change. Never Give Up.

What is your favorite principle of nonviolence and why?

I love Principle 2: “The Beloved Community is the Framework for the Future”. This is new for me. I am learning that all people have something beautiful to share. I am also learning that it is each of our responsibilities to build the community.

To learn more about New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation Training, please visit our website!

Inspired by New Way training, teachers and volunteers have been working on making aspects of the training accessible to public school students and teachers.

A group of educators and volunteers are working on a New Way classroom curriculum that not only incorporates the principles of nonviolence, but also the Common Core Standards that most schools are required to follow.

The inspiration came as one teacher who also volunteers with Something New began implementing parts of the training in her class: “I have been a classroom teacher 22 years, in 3 different school districts, in 3 different states. In every classroom in every state I would see similar problems. Students do not know how to communicate,or problem solve.

I have used different peer mediation and conflict resolution programs, and even written one. But they just teach students a problem solving method. With nonviolence, it is more than a method, but an understanding of each other. Or even an understand that others are different, and that is okay. Seek First to understand and then be understood.

“I am in a very diverse school now. The children loved sharing about their own cultures. But it was interesting teaching 2 sections of Social Studies and seeing that both classes came up with similar things they valued.” -Teresa

As Teresa was seeing the immediate impact in her classroom, Jess (another Something New volunteer) was finishing her graduate degree and wanted to focus on nonviolence training in the classroom as her final master’s project:

“I chose to do my Masters project on creating activities and lessons that incorporate the nonviolence principles because I had seen, first hand, the positive effects of nonviolence activities in my classroom. After doing a few activities that I learned from the New Way training program, my students began to work through conflict by communicating with one another and speaking out when they felt something was wrong. To see students stand up for their classmate as they were getting picked on, inspired me to dig deeper into the principles to create more activities to deepen the love and understanding between the students in my class.” – Jess

When Jess and Teresa realized they were working on the same concepts, they invited others to brainstorm with them and our newest New Way project was born.

For the next school year, the team will be working with administrators and educators in the local school system to bring New Way in.

A diverse group of individuals stand united outside the Memphis, TN, National Civil Rights Museum to stand for more peace in their city.

Earlier this week, a united group of people from over many different backgrounds and cultures gathered in Memphis, TN, to advocate for peace in their city. In front of the National Civil Rights Museum, people held hands in solidarity to talk about how they can work together to decrease the murder rate in Memphis. Known as Campaign Nonviolence, this group organized over 500 groups across the country in an effort to increase the peace, truly demonstrating the unity of a nonviolent campaign.

A video of the story can be seen HERE and visit the Campaign Nonviolence website to learn more!

To become a trained nonviolence practitioner, please visit New Way’s website to learn more about our nonviolence and conflict reconciliation training program!

The Valiant Cross Scholars participating in New Way training at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, AL.

“The Rosa Parks Museum at Troy University Montgomery recently partnered with Valiant Cross Academy and held a summer camp centered around nonviolent conflict resolution. The gentlemen from Something New’s “New Way” program led a workshop on goal setting, and it was phenomenal! The Valiant Cross scholars thoroughly enjoyed and learned a great deal from the workshop. The workshop leaders were very knowledgeable and engaging with the boys. They were very hands-on and led a variety of activities that were relatable to the students involved. This workshop was the highlight of our camp!“

-Donna, Rosa Parks Museum Education Coordinator

To learn more about New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation Training, visit our website!